1 day Ago By Chris Robinson
Australian defensive ace Dyson Daniels has been recognised for his rapid rise in the NBA this season, snaring the league’s Most Improved Player award. Daniels becomes the first Aussie to snare the prize off the back of a superb campaign in his first season with Atlanta after being traded out of New Orleans. The 22-year-old narrowly missed out on Defensive Player of the Year honours, finishing second behind Cleveland’s Evan Mobley when that award was announced last week.
But he wouldn’t be denied in Most Improved stakes, with his 44 first-place votes almost double that of the 23 received by runner-up Ivica Zubac of the LA Clippers. Daniels averaged 14.1 points, 5.
9 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, but it was a league-best 3.0 steals per game that commanded the attention of the league.
The Bendigo product’s 229 total steals marked the highest number by any NBA player in a season since legendary defensive guard Gary Payton’s effort from 1995-96. More to come.
